The grant, which totals $249,214, will be used to further assess the needs of young people in West Contra Costa County and design programs that will address those needs.
The RYSE Youth Center is located in a 6600-square-foot, county-owned facility at 41st Street and Bissell Avenue in Richmond.
Organizers include the city of Richmond, the county, about 15 local non-profit organizations and a group of young people who initiated the process two and a half years ago, Dhaliwal said.
Their plan has been to create a space where young people ages 14 to 21 who live in west county can gather to develop leadership skills, promote multi-racial unity, and have access to a range of programs including tutoring and career support, health services, arts and recreation.
The California Endowment is a private, statewide health foundation that was created in 1996 as a result of Blue Cross of California's creation of WellPoint Health Networks, a for-profit corporation, according to the foundation.
